( I0 7 ) 



In this part of the foreft ftands Wilverly- 

 lodge, commanding beautiful views of thefe 

 fweet wooded lawns, and vallies j which, from 

 the high fituation of lodge, are fet off 

 with the ifle of Wight, as a back-ground. 



From Wilverly, we traverfed the pales of 

 a new timber-inclofure, which is not lefs than 

 four miles in circumference. If the wood, 

 which it is meant to defend, fhould ever 

 flourifh, it would foon create a fcene. But 

 at prefent this part of the foreft is barren 

 of beauty ; and there is fo little appear- 

 ance of the growth of timber, that people 

 are apt to fuppofe, it has been ignorantly 



planted , or negligently attended. One rea- 



ibn indeed affigned for the ruin of the young 

 wood, is the quantity of rabbits, which breed 

 in the dry, fandy hills of thefe parts ; and 

 which it is difficult, amidft fuch fhelter, to 

 extirpate. A young oak, juft vegetating from 

 the acorn, is a fpecies of food eagerly fought 

 after by thefe pernicious inmates : fo that it 

 may juftly be faid, the glory of England may 

 be nipped in the bud by a paltry rabbit. 



After we leave thefe dreary pales, the 

 country, here and there, breaks out towards 

 Holmfley-lodge ; but nothing is very intereft- 



ing 



